Topeka  Brownback declines to state position on lesser prairie chicken bill

Gov. Sam Brownback has decided to sue the federal government over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department's decision to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species.

But Brownback declined to say how he felt about a bill that could reach his desk that would assert state sovereignty over nonmigratory wildlife, declare null and void any federal law in Kansas on the lesser prairie chicken, and allow state officials to charge federal officials with a felony if a federal official tried to enforce a federal law dealing with the lesser prairie chicken.

"We're looking at it. We'll see," Brownback said when asked to comment on Senate Bill 276, which has passed the Senate and is pending in the House.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has testified in support of the bill, saying it would likely lead to a legal battle pitting state rights against federal law.

During debate last week in the House on a bill to repeal the state's renewable energy standards, state Rep. Marc Rhoades, a Newton Republican and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, claimed that the standards would increase Kansans' electric rates by 40 percent.

That produced loud groans from supporters of the standards, and an angry rebuke from Rhoades who said he didn't appreciate being interrupted while he spoke.

Supporters of the renewable standards point to a state report that says the mandate has increased rates by two-fifths of one cent

The measure to repeal the standards was defeated.

Quote of the week:

"They're not undocumented workers. They're illegal aliens." State Rep. Allan Rothlisberg, R-Grandview Plaza, speaking on his unsuccessful bill amendment that would have required schools to record students' immigration status.

Comments

In reply to quote of the week: who does he think is working out there in towns like Dodge City and Great Bend? In the early 80's they were the rough necks. They came with the sugar beat wave. They're in the meat packing plants. They are pretty much there in plain site. They're just here to work. I thought the GOP was all in favor of people working.

Didn't the Kansas Legislature Try this with Firearms not too long ago? I remember a Letter from USAG Holder To Kansas Stating something like"I would not advise interfering with a Federal Law enforcement Officer in the commission of his/her duties. If You Do, there will be serious consequences!" Is Kansas going to secede from the Union? Land locked and Without a Coast? LOL! This Is comical. Such Sanctimony! Who Do You(The Kansas Legislature) Think You Are? Too bad some one did not yell out "Liar!" when Rhoades was speaking. He deserves the same respect the GOP showed our President when he was speaking on TV! This Legislature is acting like a bunch of spoiled brats who need to be sent to bed without Supper! Let 's just send them home after the next Election. I challenge all of you: VOTE! Vote for whomever you want but, Get out there and Vote. If everyone votes we might actually have the" Will of The People" to show for the effort. This Is the United States of America not the United States of Brownback!